Hose protector



INVENTOR Gsorge E. b'kinkl;

BY 2mm 1 2;;

ATTOR Dec. 18, 1928.

G. E. SKINKLE HOSE PROTECTOR Filed July 18, 1927 Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES GEORGE E. SKINKLE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HOSE PROTECTOR.

Application filed ul 18,

This application relates to wearing apparel and more particularly to that type which is used for protecting ladies hose during in clement weather. c

5 Heretofore various types of leggings and gaiters have been proposed for use as leg coverings; but such devices are usually bulky in appearance and are not of such form or material as to permit them to be reduced to a small compass so that they may be conveniently carried in a ladys purse or pocket when not in use. V

This invention has for an object to provide an. article of the class referred to which is adapted to be worn on the outside of the hose, and when in applied position will pre- Vent the hose from becoming spotted or soiled,

and at the same time present a pleasing effect to the'eye.

Another object is to provide a substantially transparent relatively thin, and highly elastic hose protector which can be readily and easily applied to and removed from the body of a wearer, and one which when removed oocupies an extremely small space, thus permittin it tobe conveniently carried in a ladys poc ket or purse until its use is desired.

Another object which might be considered ancillary to the foregoing is to provide an article of the class referred to" which is universally applicable, simple in construction and susceptible of being produced at a moder- Fig. 3 is a view of the article shown in Figs.-

1 and 2 in place on the wearer.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view showing a somewhat modified construction of the foot portion of the article.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view illustrating a further modification of the foot portion; and

Fig. 6 is a detailed view illustrating a further modification of the construction shown in Fig. 5.

throughout the length (see Fig. 1).

1927. Serial. No. 206,497,

Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, 10 indicates an elongated tubular body portion, prefer-- ably of substantially uniform diam gtfir e material from which the body portion is made is preferably a very thin high grade rubber which is substantially transparent and is capable of 'beingstretched to a great degree without tearing. A foot portion 11 is formed integrally with the body portion 10 and preferably of the same material. A reinforcement 12- extends around the lower edge of the foot portion in order to prevent tearing of the foot portion during application and removal of the hose protector. A T-strap 14 connects with opposite sides of the reinforcement 12 and is adapted to xtend beneath the instep of the wearer to ho d the foot portion 11 in position upon the shoe.

The upper end of the body portion has a roll member 15 integrally united therewith. The roll member is preferably formed of thin hollow tubing, preferably inflated sli htly, that, permits the stretching of the roll dilember around the upper portion of the calf of the leg without causing an undue pressure thereon. The roll member serves as a man'- drel over which the body portion is rolled in its removal from the body of the wearer. The roll member also serves as a reinforcing means for the top of the body portion.

In Fig. 3 I have shown my improved hose protector in applied position. As shown the body portion 10 covers the hose 16 and, by reason of its elastic qualities, closely conforms to the contours of the wearers body. The foot portion 11 covers the upper portion of the shoe 17 and the T-strap 14 extends beneath the instep and holds the foot portion in proper position. In applied position my inventionprovides an effective means for preventing the Wearers hose and the upper portions of the shoe from becoming soiled or spotted.

The hose protector can be easily and readily 100 applied to and removed from the body of the wearer. The removal operation is performed by rolling the body portion 10 over the tubing 11 and upon itself from the top down as will be readily understood. This operation leaves the underlying hose unsoiled even though the hose protector is badly splattered. After the body portion has been rolled upon itself substantially to the ankle portion thereof, the entire hose protector can be easily 11 slipped over the shoe of the wearer in the usual manner as with hosiery and the like.. The rolling operation-will reduce the hose protector to an extremely small compass (see operation is carried out; that is to say the foot with the shoe thereon is slipped into proper position within the hose protector, With the foot portion 11 covering theupper of the shoe, the T-strap 14 extending beneath the instep and the rolled body portion embracing the angle'as will bereadily understood. The body portion then can be-quickly unrolled upon the leg of the wiiarer to occupy the position indicated in Fig. 3. p

In the manufacture of the article, it is preferred that a mold be provided which is complementary in form to the article illustrated in Fig. 1, that is to say one having a leg por tion of substantially uniform diameter or with only a limited degree oftaper, and a properly shaped foo't portion. The hose protector is preferably made by dipping the-mold in a suitable rubber cement and afterward curing the form thus covered by placing the. same in an open heater. Any other method of producing a formed thin rubber skin could also'be used within the spirit of the invention.

In this way a thin rubber article of light weight and high degree of elasticity" is provided. The roll element 15 and the reinforcing edging 12 together with the T -strap 14 of the hose protector are preferably mounted in place on the mold before it is dipped and the rubber cement is applied over these elements in order that it will readily vulcanize thereto during the curing. The use of very light weight rubber and a roll element 11 also 0 light weight gives to the article a capacity to fit variations in leg sizes.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of construction which is especially desirable when the shoe of the wearer is provided with buckles or other ornaments which might in jure the hose protector during its application or removal. 20 indicates the toe portion of the hose protector which in this instance is provided with a slit 21. 22 indicates the loose ends of the toe portion bordering the slit. These ends are detachably secured together by means of a suitable fastener 23. The foot portion is provided with the reinforcing 24 as in the former constructions. The interior of a the toe portion 20 is provided with an addirial by the buckles. When the article is re moved or applied the loose ends 22, 22 are unsecured in position by means of a very small,

highly elastic, endless rubber band 31 integrally united with the outer edge of the foot portion 30. The band 31 is slightly smaller than the overall dimension of the shoe at the sole, and when stretched around the toe and heel and placed between the welt and sole of the shoe it will hold the foot portion 30 in position over the upper, as shown. In this modification I provide a detachable instep strap 32 which is held in operative position by a glove fastener 33. The two parts of the fastener are vulcanized or otherwise secured O to the strap and foot portion, as will be readily understood.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 5. The foot portion in this modification is provided with a rubber band 41 which fits between the welt and sole of the shoe for holding the foot portion in position. The heel portion is provided with a reinforced slit 42 for permitting the hose protector to be applied and removed. The loose ends 43, 43 are detachably secured together by means of a suitable fastener 44.

Ladies have found that the present use of sheer hosiery now in vogue requires particular care to prevent spotting and discoloration of the stocking during inclement weather and for this reason a hose protector of the character proposed that can conveniently be carried -in the pocket of the wearer is of considerable benefit since it conserves the hosiery and also assists inprotecting the shoes when going to and coming from parties and the like.

The garment may be made of substantially transparent rubber materialso that its presence can not be readily detected by the casual observer or it might be constructed from material that is flesh colored or otherwise decorated to meet the taste of the individual.

T In constructing my device of thin big) grade rubber which is highly elastic and su stantially transparent, have provided an article which when applied to the body of the wearer will protect the hose and shoes during inclement weather, will closely conform to the body of the wearer, and will present apleasing efifect to the eye. In addition, the provision of a roll member permits the article to be easily and quickly applied to and removed from the body of the wearer. The removal operation places the hose protector in convenient compacted condition and also in convenient condition for its ready application when its useis desired.

ion

It is to be understood that the particular forms of the garment shown and described are presented for purposes'of explanation and illustration and that various modificationsof the same can be made without departing from my invention as defined in the appended blaims.

What I claim is:

1. In a hose protector, the combination of an elongated integrally formed tubulan body portion of thirrhighly resilient rubber adapted to be worn over the hose of the wearer, and a foot portion integrally united with the lowerend of the body portion and shaped to fit over the upper portion of the shoe of the wearer, said foot portion having a band adapted to be stretched around the shoe to snugly engage the same and a. band adapted to extend under the instep of the shoe, one of said bands being formed of detachably connected parts.

2. In a hose protector, the combination of an elongated integrally formed tubular body portion of thin highly resilient rubber adapted to be worn over the hose of the wearer, and a foot portion integrally united with the .lower end of the body portion, said foot por tion having a band adapted to extend under the instep of the wearer and a band adapted to be-stretched around the shoe and to snugly engage between the welt and upper thereof,

one of said. bands being formed of separate detachably connected parts. I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE E. SKINKLE. 

